Improvement in car-couplings



E. C. HAMLIN.

Car Coupling.

Y Patented Jan. 14, 1862 NJETERS, rmwumoeanuia, WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. O. HAMLIN, OF PAVILION, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,143, dated January14,1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. C. HAMLIN, of Pavilion, in the county of Geneseeand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Self-Coupler forRailroad-Cars; and I do here by declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a top view with the cap removed and showing the arrangementof the internal parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the parts,as indicated by the red line in Fig. 1.

The nature of this invention will be understood by reference to thedrawings and specification.

I construct the bumper stock or shank, as seen in Fig. 1, with anadjustable jaw A on one side, and in the space between the jaws A and Bis placed an adjusting-circle G and a pressure-plate or follower F. Thelatter is recessed on the top to make room for the lever m, and theouter end is made to fit the circle 0. A portion of this circle isremoved to fit the circular head of the link Z, which head is shapedlike a double-convex lens, as seen in Fig. 1, and the convex surfaceshave a common diameter with the adj Listing-circle O. The inner surfacesof the points I) of jaws A and B are also segments of the same circle.The follower F is thrown out by the springs s, which are kept inposition by the steadypins. The pawlr is hinged to the lower plate ofthe bumper, and it is pressed forward by the spring 3. The lever m ishinged to the cap of the bumper. 'The jaw A is hinged to the bumper bythe pivot v, and it is held in position by the spring S.

The lever B is supported by the standard w, and the end is split toreceive the eye of the pin p, and by means of the slot through which thebolt 15 passes the pin is allowed to retain its vertical position whilebeing adj usted.

The circular slot in the head of the link Z is struck from the center ofthe adjustingcircle 0, so that the draft shall be both upon the pin 10and upon both shoulders of the circular head of the link Z whether thedraft be straight forward or angling either way, as

indicated by the position of the link shown by the dotted lines in Fig.1.

The especial object of the adjusting-circle O is that when the link ispressed in (on a curve) either wayas when the train is backing onto abranch-the link Z is allowed to swing either way on the pin 1) as afulcrum without cramping, the points of the adjuster assuming one of thetwo positions indicated by the dotted lines.

When a car is to be uncoupled, the lever R is placed in the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 2, which withdraws the pin p and carries theyoke 1 up so as to relieve the jaw A, and it is held there by the pawl'1'. Then the lever m is thrown forward, as shown by the dotted lines m,Fig. 1, and the point f forces the jaw A cut, as indicated by the dottedlines, which entirely relieves the link Z.

To couple a car the lever B is set as before and the link is placed inthe bumper of the other car, and when they are backed together the link(being of proper length to do so) presses the follower of both bumpersin, as shown by the dotted lines, before the bumper-heads strike, andthe tappet t prelses the pawl r back, so as to unhook the lever B, andthe pin 13 drops through the link.

The object of the yoke y is to prevent the jaw A from opening, exceptwhen a car is to be coupled or uncoupled, and the lever m may beoperated by the engineer by attaching a cord or chain thereto.

The ordinary pins may be used without alteration.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The employment, in self-couplers for cars,

of a link with a circular head and slot, as

described, in combination with the adjustingcircle 0 and follower F.

2. The combination and arrangement of the adjustable clamping-yoke y andpin p with the lever B and pawl 'r', as and for the purposes specified.

E. C. HAMLIN.

Witnesses:

WM. S. LOUGHBOROUGH.

LoUIs ERNST.

